Monthly Archives: September 2011

So who’s up for a bit of challenge? (Quite down Selena, the others can’t hear me over your wicked laughter!) This past March I spent two nights in a place that I’m going say is/was moderately haunted. While the jury is still out on what exactly I may have experienced, I have developed an interest in ghost stories (both real and fictional).

One of the stories I came across, was that of a British soldier that was bound to an antique bed which he was reported to have owned while he walked among the living. It was discovered by a couple that had bought the bed, he had no problem with a woman sleeping in it, but men where strictly NOT welcome at all! All this made me wonder (a dangerous thing I know) how many other earthbound souls remained attached to an object that had once belonged to them?

So here’s the challenge. Write a story about a haunted item. It can be of any length (I have found that good stories often know how long to be). Beyond that, go where the story takes you. Be sad, be dark, be creepy, have the character(s) live happily NEVER after! Then post your stories on your own site and remember to link it back to this challenge. In early November I’ll post the links for each story in one wrap up post.

“1906 Edwardian Lady With Bonnet” shared by ShutterlyHappy (Flickr)

For those who would like a bit of back story, allow me to introduce you to Sarahann. She is the owner of the “Shoppe of Earthbound Souls” which rather conveniently deals in haunted antiques. She knows the story of each piece in the collection, and she is happy to share them with any would be purchasers. She also happens to be a ghost as well. Her store likes to “pop” up here and there, and more than once a patron has returned to the store’s site only to find a burned out shell of a house or vacant lot.

Feel free to use her in any story you might dream up, I only ask that you keep her neutral, she is NOT evil and would never endanger a living soul. She has been known to give warnings to would be buyers of particularly nasty or ill intentioned antiquities which may or may not be heeded by mere mortals. Sometimes those impulse buys come back to haunt us in the end!

Both Sarahann and myself are dying to read your creations! Hope you have a fun Octo”boo”er and good luck wordsmithing.

Summer is gone! It ran its glorious course all too quickly and now the kids are back at school. There is a hint of frost in the air that suggests the weather is starting to change. In some places the leaves are painting the horizon with spectacular displays. Crops are being brought in and pumpkins are starting to appear. Yes something is definitely in the air.

Try standing in a cornfield during the full moon and watch for fleeting glimpses of figures mounted on brooms flash cross the sky. Or perhaps you may sense a presence just at the edge of your vision, and no matter how fast you turn, you never see what it was. The things in the night are starting to go “bump”. Yep, my time of the year!

“Cosplay Sugar Sugar Rune” by Florian Fromentin (Flickr)

I have always loved this season. You could almost say that I take de”fright’ in it all. Perhaps it’s the muse of a dear friend that has whispered in my ear as of late, but the stories that fill my head have taken a darker turn. I try to fight the darkness, but each happy tale soon comes to a bitter end. I see haunts in the shadows and will-of -the wisps in the night air. So casting “happily ever after” to the wind and the fell beasties, I welcome you to Octo”Boo”er here at the fictional campfire!

I am looking for several guess writers to join my celebration. Here is your chance to write that spooky little tale that keeps asking to be let out. So if you feel up to a walk on the darker side of the street let me know! Not up for that? Then perhaps one of the two, month-long challenges will be something you can sink you teeth into. Any which way, I’m hoping everybody will have a howling good time!

The calendar may still show a few days left in September, but I hear-by declare Octo”Boo”er has begun! I’m hoping to get the word out to all the boys and ghouls who like to write, so if you could be so kind as to pass the word along through the social channels. Watch for the twitter hash tag #Octobooer. Welcome to the happily never after!

Once upon a time there was a young(ish) man who thought that one day he might like to write out all the wild stories and characters that inhabited his slightly peculiar mind. After many half-attempts, he finally managed to build an imaginary campfire where he (and others) could go to share stories. Life was good!

But like all stories, you know that the hero can not simply find the treasure, get the girl and stroll off to happily ever after. There must be challenges and dragons along the way. It is these interruptions that make the a story lifelike, and force the hero to push that bit harder the reach his goals. It is that journey, and not the words “The End” that we love read.

“dragon slayer” by mugley (Flickr)

Similar to my fictional hero, I now find myself standing up to one of these unexpected dragons. In this case; a new job. After several years of hard work, I managed to win a promotion. So I bid driving goodbye and took up the position of dispatcher. While I was sure that it would be hard work for a while, I figured that I would master it (my dragon) in short order. Sadly that is/was not the case. Seems that the dragon was actually MUCH bigger than I imagined it was. Now six weeks later I’m still locked in mortal combat!. I have no doubt that being “pure of heart” (plus the help of the other dispatchers) I will overcome the beast and prevail in the end.

I’m just not so sure when that may be! The dragon often requires that I fight it 12 hours a day, so lately most of the time I seem to be either working or sleeping. While the stories still are safely stored in my imagination, I would seem that it will be a while before I get back to word smithing them out, so please have some patience.

In closing I would like to thank my writing friends. It was your support, friendship and advice that started me on the road to “happily ever after”. I do miss you guys.

Many thanks!

Ken

PS – In the next couple of days there is a surprise of sorts coming, so keep watch!